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Worms are a common problem in kittens and some cats. They are large parasites that affect the stomach and intestines including tapeworms, roundworms, hookworms and less common, stomach worms. As worms in the gut of your feline multiply, crucial nutrients are lost, resulting in poor nutrition, abdominal pain and slowed growth. There are certain worms that also feed on blood that causes poor health and anemia.

The problem is that these worms not only cause diseases in cats of all ages, but they can also have a drastic impact on a human being’s health. These parasites can be ingested accidentally and hookworms have a peculiar trait of migrating and penetrating in the skin. But the most important thing is to determine the symptoms of worms in your feline so that you can detect these worms quickly.

Let us now look at some of the symptoms of different types of worms in cats:

Different Types Of Intestinal Worms in Cats

Roundworms

Roundworms are a type of parasite that infests cats and they can even be spread to humans. They can be about 2 to 4 inches long. They are light in color, particularly tan or white with their ends tapered. They appear like strands of spaghetti in the stool of the feline or in vomiting. If you see this, then it is likely that your kitty is infested by roundworms.

Symptoms Of Roundworms In Cats

If your feline has one or more of these symptoms then she might have roundworms in her gut:

Decrease in energy or activity

Frequent loose stools or diarrhea

Potbellied appearance that happens in a short period of time

Vomiting on a regular basis

Kittens usually acquire roundworms while nursing due to roundworm larvae in the mammary glands of their mother. But a cat of any age can acquire roundworms by ingesting the eggs consisting of larvae. This can happen when the kitty eats the host consisting of eggs. Some of the common roundworm hosts encompass: birds, roaches, rodents and earthworms.

Use an effective de-worming treatment after discussing with your veterinarian and treat roundworms in your cat.

Tapeworms in Cats

Tapeworms are commonly found worms in cats. The main carriers of tapeworms in felines are fleas. Hence, infestation from tapeworms in cats is a typical side effect of flea infestation. These worms are quite visible in the stool or in the fur surrounding the tail of the feline. Segments of tapeworm break off and get through the stool of the cat. They are small, rice-like in appearance. But the peculiar thing about these worms is that they can grow by several inches long inside the body of the cat.

Symptoms Of Tapeworms In Cats

The appearance of tapeworm segments in stool or attached to the tail of the cat or fur around the anus

Weight loss (which can range from minor to severe)

Young fleas, also known as larvae eat tapeworm eggs, which then grows into adults. If your feline ends up ingesting the flea while licking the flea bites or chewing the skin, the tapeworm which exists on the flea attaches itself to the intestinal lining of the feline, where it grows. Tiny segments detach from tapeworm which are excreted in the stool of the cat. The kitty can even vomit a bout of tapeworm on an occasional basis.

Use a de-worming treatment as suggested by your veterinarian to treat tapeworms in your cat. But since, fleas are the main culprit that carries tapeworm, it is recommended to use a flea preventative treatment that gets rid of adult fleas, larvae and eggs. Also clean your cat’s bedding to prevent further flea re-infestation.

Hookworms in Cats

Hookworms are not visible to the human eye. They are very thin and grow up to 1/8 inch long. The peculiar thing about these worms is that they can be transmitted from cat to human if they walk in the infested area with bare feet. The hookworms burrow into the skin of the feet and enter the digestive tract. They suck the blood of the feline resulting in anemia. This can create a life-threatening situation in felines.

Symptoms Of Hookworms In Cats

Abdominal pain

Blood appearing in the stool of the kitten

Frequent loose stool or diarrhea

Weakness or lethargy

Treat hookworms with a de-worming treatment as recommended by your veterinarian. You might require two or more treatments to kill adult hookworms and the larvae after they hatch.

Stomach Worms in Kitty

Stomach worms are rarely seen in cats. But most of this worm infestation occurs when the kitty eats the vomit of an infected animal.

Symptoms Of Stomach Worms In Cats

Decreased activity / lethargy

Moderate to severe vomiting

Swift weight loss

Some of the common hosts for stomach worms encompass: cockroaches, beetles, grubs, crickets and rodents. Use a de-worming treatment as suggested by your veterinarian to treat stomach worms in your cat. As the worms die, they will be passed out through the stool of the feline. The eggs will also get killed by the treatment. The symptoms should also subside within two weeks.

So, now that you know the symptoms of different types of worms residing in your kitty, if you observe them take her to the veterinarian as soon as possible, and get her treated.